Genealogy Chat

In Scotland - don't know about England - all men over the age of 60 are offered a scan (like for babies)to pre-detect aneurisms. They are then monitered yearly, or sometimes more frequently, and the size checked for speed of expansion. When it reaches a certain size, a repair op. is carried out. My husband's is checked annually at present - he was scanned younger as his father died of a ruptured aneurism which no-one knew that he had as he was very fit. It can be aggravated by high blood pressure, smoking, excessive strain such as heavy lifting. However the original weakness of the blood vessel is usually congenital i.e. you are born with it, and it can therefore be hereditory. Get your men checked out. Don't know why they don't check women as well. Maybe it is not so common for us, but it does happen.

If it was suicide surely there would have been an inquest in which case there would be a record.

My f-i-l had an operation as he had an aneurism in his aorta. But sadly he died after the op :-(( No idea where the suicide story comes in, but family stories are like that. We accept what we are told and only think to question it later when the people who know aren't around to ask! nell

Thanks for the information.This man was my mums favorite uncle and even now 51 years later mum is still horrified by his sucide.Thats why i had to have his death cert.I am now going to ring her with the news. Annie

An aneurism is a weakening in the wall of a vein or artery. It can cause a bulge - when this happens in the aorta (which from memory carrys blood from the heart to the rest of the body) the pressure can be such that the aneurism bursts.......there is then massive bloodloss into the chest cavity. This would have always been fatal in days gone by and really can only be treated today in ''lucky'' circumstances, such as the person already being in hospital. If there is no mention of anything else on the cert then I don't see any connection to suicide. Merry

Everything you could ever want to know about this condition (including a diagram) http://www.mayoclinic.org/aortic-aneurysm/dissectingtreatment.html Essentially, the aorta wall balloons, then rips and unless you are very lucky you die. These days operable if diagnosed before the puncture. Pete

Aorta is the main vein to the heart so would assume it was something to do with that.aneuryam could be an aneurism (can't spell) which is a vein bursting or something like that, am sure there's someone with more medcial knowledge than me who can tell you

My mum was always told that her uncle commited suicide.I recieved his death cert today and although he died at home and there was a post mortem done,it does not look like suicide to me.Can someone else confirm what i am thinking.It states,Dissecting aneuryam of the arch of the aorta.I think this is something to do with his heart? Annie